Nashville witnessed its first regular-season NHL game as the Predators kicked off their inaugural season in grand fashion. Though the Preds fell 1-0 to the Florida Panthers behind the lone tally from Ray Whitney, a sellout crowd of 17,283 provided an electric atmosphere for the historic event.

A combination of civic pride and high-tech entertainment was on display. The game was preceded by a day’s worth of festivities, as players and team personnel made a grand entrance to the Sommet Center, pulling up in Army Humvees and walking down a red carpet surrounded by thousands of cheering fans. An elaborate laser show and instructions on the team’s unique “Fang Finger” taunt warmed up those in attendance as they counted down the minutes before the first puck was dropped.